As you know, cross promotion is key to further the Disney brand accross all platforms. So what has the media conglomerate been doing with the Toy Story characters lately?
It’s a good thing you asked because there’s a lot of creativity going into the licensed products for kids based on Pixar’s debut feature. Take Disney’s Read Along stories for example. The popular children’s books have arrived on Apple’s iPad through Disney Digital Books and they look great!
Features on the Toy Story (free!) and Toy Story 2 ($8.99 subscription) downloadables include a professional narration feature (which allows you to swap your own voice in), videos, songs, sound effects, games and even finger painting! I wish I could have read books like this as a child, check out a preview below:
Also coming soon from Disney is an adorable re-imagining of some of the most famous Disney and Pixar characters in ragdoll form called Pook-a-Looz. You guessed it, Buzz and Woody are in the mix! They’re cute in a "my daughter made this" kind of way.
You can find those adorable Pook-a-Looz at Disney Store, Toys ‘R’ Us, or Disney Parks. The initial wave is now available and retails for $12.99 each. Check out the entire set over at Stitch Kingdom!
Update: In honor of Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary, Disney Store is releasing exclusive Little Green Men merchandise! 
Turns out the aliens from Pizza Planet also care about our home planet! How kind of them.
The line up includes tote bags, plushes, reusable bottles and more featuring the iconic characters. These products will be available from April 12 to Earth Day on the 22nd of the same month. Learn more over at Stitch Kingdom where you can also see the entire line-up of merch.
What’s your opinion on Pixar tie-in products geared more towards kids?
Last modified: April 5, 2010
The iPad app reminds me a lot of the old Disney Animated StoryBook series they had for the PC when I was a kid. You couldn’t touch them, but from the looks of this those were still better done.
Sorry to double post, but for those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about here’s a video of the Pocahontas Animated StoryBook:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJxF8aLEzuc
I totally remember those, and had quite a few as a child but I have to disagree. These are so much more interactive and more attractive. But, to each one’s own. I respect your opinion. Thanks for posting the link btw. 🙂
these look to use the same artwork as in the (real) kids books out in stores now. the artwork is excellent. It sorta gives you an idea of what the older movies might have looked like if made today.